RUTH Project

Jesus came to preach the kingdom of God.  It is a Kingdom whose citizenship surpasses any citizenship on earth.  It is a Kingdom that welcomes the sick, the homeless, the prisoner who is guilty and the stranger… who is undocumented.   As Christians and as Texas Baptists we are asked to look beyond our human earthly alliances to see the Kingdom of God.   We are challenged to love a people we have nothing in common with; people who have come from devastating poverty, perhaps even people we would consider to be guilty.  And yet Christ commands us to love them and in loving them, we love Him. So we find ourselves, as Christ followers, struggling to do what Jesus did: to convey the Love and Mercy of God as well as the Justice of God.

A mission field has literally come to our doors.  In Romans 13, we are commanded to be good citizens and obey the rulers who have authority over us.  In Hebrews 13 we are commanded to welcome the stranger.  How can we do both?   There is good news!

The RUTH Project: Waco Immigrant Services Center is an innovative program that empowers the local church to reach the immigrant community through the provision of legal services for those who cannot afford immigration legal representation.   We provide:

• Initial Consultations
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Documentation Preparation
• Executive Office for Immigration Review (immigration court) Legal Representation
• Legal Case Management (including immigrant victims of crime)
• Citizenship Prep Class (U.S. government & civics)
• Presentations to organizations regarding developing relevant and sustainable programs that help immigrants along the path to United States Citizenship.
• Public education forums regarding changes in immigration laws and services available to Immigrants
• Connect clients to relevant social service providers within the Waco area

If you are a church in this Association looking to provide relevant powerful ministry to the mission field in your community, consider partnering with the Ruth Project. In doing so, you help realize the redemption work of God: making law breakers into law abiders and benefiters!

If you would like to learn about starting English as a Second Language class or Government and Civics class in your church, contact us at 254.297.7800 or Tihara Vargas, LMSW, M.Div at 254.548.1427.  

Our office is located at:

400 S. 4th St. Waco, Texas 76706 (Old Hoffman Banana Building)

Let us know how we can serve you as you proclaim the reality of Christ’s Kingdom on earth!